Investigations on opsonin-independent antistaphylococcal activity of human neutrophilic granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes

Abstract

Using cells from 20 healthy human donors the opsonin-independent staphylococcal killing abilities of peripheral blood neutrophilic granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes were studied. S. aureus strains T 1 and T 14, S. sciuri strain S I, S. saprophyticus strain S III and S. simulans strain S V were selected for these experiments because of their differing cell wall composition, surface hydrophobicity, protein A content and extracellular enzyme activity spectrum. We could demonstrate a very individual activity range of these cells against staphylococci. On the other hand each staphylococcal strain examined behaved in a very typical way in its susceptibility against the killing by human phagocytes and lymphocytes. Repeated tests in monthly intervals showed that the staphylococcal killing activity range of phagocytes and lymphocytes of a certain healthy donor remains constant and stable.